Abstract: An electrode arrangement for acting on a charged particle beam in a charged particle beam apparatus is described. The electrode arrangement includes a first electrode with a first opening for the charged particle beam; a first spacer element positioned in a first recess provided in the first electrode on a first electrode side for aligning the first electrode relative to a second electrode, the first spacer element having a first blind hole; a first conductive shield provided in the first blind hole; and a contact assembly protruding from the first electrode into the first blind hole for ensuring an electrical contact between the first electrode and the first conductive shield. Further, a contact assembly for such an electrode arrangement, a charged particle beam device with such an electrode arrangement, as well as a method of reducing an electrical field strength in an electrode arrangement are described.

Abstract: A deflector system for fast magnetic deflection of a charged particle beam is described. The deflector system includes a tube for separating the beam from the magnetic deflector coil arrangement, the tube having a middle section, at least a first end section, and a second end section, wherein a wall thickness of the middle section is lower than a wall thickness of at least one of the first end section and the second end section.

Abstract: The invention provides a charged particle beam device to inspect or structure a specimen with a primary charged particle beam propagating along an optical axis; a beam tube element having a tube voltage; and a retarding field analyzer in the vicinity of the beam tube element to detect secondary charged particles generated by the primary charged particle beam on the specimen. According to the invention, the retarding field analyzer thereby comprises an entrance grid electrode at a second voltage; at least one filter grid electrode at a first voltage; a charged particle detector to detect the secondary charged particles; and at least one further electrode element arranged between the entrance grid electrode and the at least one filter grid electrode. The at least one further electrode element reduces the size of the stray fields regions in the retarding electric field region to improve the energy resolution of the retarding field analyzer.

Abstract: A lens assembly having a magnetic lens assembly for a charged particle beam system is provided. The lens assembly includes: a first pole piece having a connecting portion of the first pole piece and a gap portion of the first pole piece, a second pole piece having a connecting portion of the second pole piece and a gap portion of the second pole piece, wherein the first pole piece and the second pole piece provide a gap at the respective gap portions, a coil for exciting the magnetic lens assembly, a centering element comprising a material that has a smaller Young's modulus than the material of the first and the material of the second pole piece, wherein the pole pieces are connected with each other at the respective connecting portions and have a centering element receiving portion towards the respective gap portion ends of the pole pieces.

Abstract: A lens assembly having an electrostatic lens component for a charged particle beam system is provided. The assembly includes: a first electrode having a conically shaped portion, a second electrode having a conically shaped portion, and a first insulator having a conically shaped portion, wherein the first insulator comprises two extending portions towards each of its ends, and wherein the two extending portions are formed to generate a gap between the insulator and each of the adjacent electrodes.

Abstract: The invention provides a charged particle beam device to inspect or structure a specimen with a primary charged particle beam propagating along an optical axis; a beam tube element having a tube voltage; and a retarding field analyzer in the vicinity of the beam tube element to detect secondary charged particles generated by the primary charged particle beam on the specimen. According to the invention, the retarding field analyzer thereby comprises an entrance grid electrode at a second voltage; at least one filter grid electrode at a first voltage; a charged particle detector to detect the secondary charged particles; and at least one further electrode element arranged between the entrance grid electrode and the at least one filter grid electrode. The at least one further electrode element reduces the size of the stray fields regions in the retarding electric field region to improve the energy resolution of the retarding field analyzer.

Abstract: A lens assembly having a magnetic lens assembly for a charged particle beam system is provided. The lens assembly includes: a first pole piece having a connecting portion of the first pole piece and a gap portion of the first pole piece, a second pole piece having a connecting portion of the second pole piece and a gap portion of the second pole piece, wherein the first pole piece and the second pole piece provide a gap at the respective gap portions, a coil for exciting the magnetic lens assembly, a centering element comprising a material that has a smaller Young's modulus than the material of the first and the material of the second pole piece, wherein the pole pieces are connected with each other at the respective connecting portions and have a centering element receiving portion towards the respective gap portion ends of the pole pieces.

Abstract: A lens assembly having an electrostatic lens component for a charged particle beam system is provided. The assembly includes: a first electrode having a conically shaped portion, a second electrode having a conically shaped portion, and a first insulator having a conically shaped portion, wherein the first insulator comprises two extending portions towards each of its ends, and wherein the two extending portions are formed to generate a gap between the insulator and each of the adjacent electrodes.

Abstract: An electric-magnetic field-generating element and a multipole element comprising a plurality of these field-generating elements providing for a stable charged particle beam are described. For some embodiments, the electric-magnetic field-generating element includes a pole piece, a yoke to which the pole piece is attached, at least one coil, a vacuum-tight container accommodating the coil(s), and a holder adapted to hold the vacuum-tight container such that the vacuum-tight container is spaced from the pole piece and the yoke.

Abstract: An electric-magnetic field-generating element and a multipole element comprising a plurality of these field-generating elements providing for a stable charged particle beam are described. For some embodiments, the electric-magnetic field-generating element includes a pole piece, a yoke to which the pole piece is attached, at least one coil, a vacuum-tight container accommodating the coil(s), and a holder adapted to hold the vacuum-tight container such that the vacuum-tight container is spaced from the pole piece and the yoke.